As the skimmer works these organics build up inside the neck and collection cup. The more this scum buildS up, the less efficient it is. By keeping the neck clean throughout the day you get more consistent skimmer performance.

And if you have doubts about this gadget living up to the hype, back in 2014 Reef Builders put a similar automatic neck cleaner to the test and the results speak for themselves. After running the skimmer for nine months the inside of the skimmer neck was still squeaky clean.

The automatic neck cleaner made by Reef Octopus uses twin squeegees to remove the buildup from a skimmer neck and the lid consists of a high torque low RPM motor and wiper mount. To install just pop off the top of your old skimmer and screw on the shiny new top. Plug in and set the time or aquarium controller to run for a few minutes each day 4 to 6 times per day.

This particular neck cleaner works with Reef Octopus protein skimmers and comes in a range of sizes for home or commercial use. You can find a compatibility list here (click feature section on left side of page) detailing which size neck cleaner will fit your skimmer.